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Report to NEC on Howard Petrick Defense - April 21, 1967
by Lew and Susan
The initial response to the defense of comrade Howard Petrick
has been encouraging. The Pfc. Howard Petrick case has the potential to become one of the largest and most popular in the antiwar
movement. It is the most clear cut case to date involving the
rights of GIs. Through the case we again have an opportunity to
educate the antiwar movement on the attitude it should take
toward GIs. We also again have the opportunity to take the
facts of the war and the case to GIs.
Previous cases, with the exception of the Lt. Howe case, have
involved either the refusal of an order or a pacifist stand. The
Petrick case involves none of these. His is a case of simple
democratic rights — the right to think, believe, and talk about
what one wishes.
There is a prevailing mood in the antiwar movement that once
in the armed forces all hope is lost; that the military is just
a machine that dehumanizes individuals. The Fort Hood Three case
helped to cut across this mood. The Petrick case can go even
further as it demonstrates that it is possible to maintain
radical views, and moreover to gain a hearing for them in the
armed forces.
The legal situation has not changed. The only difference is
that the threat to Howard now comes from higher authority. ;•
Initially the threat of charges and a court martial by Fort.
Hood authorities was imminent,necessitating an immediate
campaigning response. The charges were delayed when Howard's
military counsel left the base for a few days with the agreement
that no charges would be brought until he returned. Evidently
the constitutional issues and the initial response were too
much for the Fort Hood authorities. They have since passed the
whole affair on to the Pentagon, where decisions are now being
made. The military brass in Washington have the results of
Howard's investigation, are reviewing the case, and in about
a month will make a decision. This military war council has
the right to take any action they deem fit, and we must assume
they will want to go the limit.
Hence, the threat of a court-martial is very real, and a
vigorous defense is needed.
Howie is in fine spirits. He has made new friends in his
new unit and is getting along well. He reports that he is being
treated like other GIs, except that he cannot get a leave to go
more than 100 miles off base. Military Intelligence has told him
that they are returning his literature and other personal items.
Howard reports that he has received a great deal of support from
his fellow GIs, and many have seen the Militant and are impressed
with the defense effort.

Copyright belongs to the individuals who created them or the organizations for which they worked. We share them here strictly for non-profit educational purposes. If you believe that you possess copyright to material included here, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org. Under the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright law, teachers and students are free to reproduce any document for nonprofit classroom use. Commercial use of copyright-protected material is generally prohibited.

Copyright belongs to the individuals who created them or the organizations for which they worked. We share them here strictly for non-profit educational purposes. If you believe that you possess copyright to material included here, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org. Under the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright law, teachers and students are free to reproduce any document for nonprofit classroom use. Commercial use of copyright-protected material is generally prohibited.

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Full text

(
c
Report to NEC on Howard Petrick Defense - April 21, 1967
by Lew and Susan
The initial response to the defense of comrade Howard Petrick
has been encouraging. The Pfc. Howard Petrick case has the potential to become one of the largest and most popular in the antiwar
movement. It is the most clear cut case to date involving the
rights of GIs. Through the case we again have an opportunity to
educate the antiwar movement on the attitude it should take
toward GIs. We also again have the opportunity to take the
facts of the war and the case to GIs.
Previous cases, with the exception of the Lt. Howe case, have
involved either the refusal of an order or a pacifist stand. The
Petrick case involves none of these. His is a case of simple
democratic rights — the right to think, believe, and talk about
what one wishes.
There is a prevailing mood in the antiwar movement that once
in the armed forces all hope is lost; that the military is just
a machine that dehumanizes individuals. The Fort Hood Three case
helped to cut across this mood. The Petrick case can go even
further as it demonstrates that it is possible to maintain
radical views, and moreover to gain a hearing for them in the
armed forces.
The legal situation has not changed. The only difference is
that the threat to Howard now comes from higher authority. ;•
Initially the threat of charges and a court martial by Fort.
Hood authorities was imminent,necessitating an immediate
campaigning response. The charges were delayed when Howard's
military counsel left the base for a few days with the agreement
that no charges would be brought until he returned. Evidently
the constitutional issues and the initial response were too
much for the Fort Hood authorities. They have since passed the
whole affair on to the Pentagon, where decisions are now being
made. The military brass in Washington have the results of
Howard's investigation, are reviewing the case, and in about
a month will make a decision. This military war council has
the right to take any action they deem fit, and we must assume
they will want to go the limit.
Hence, the threat of a court-martial is very real, and a
vigorous defense is needed.
Howie is in fine spirits. He has made new friends in his
new unit and is getting along well. He reports that he is being
treated like other GIs, except that he cannot get a leave to go
more than 100 miles off base. Military Intelligence has told him
that they are returning his literature and other personal items.
Howard reports that he has received a great deal of support from
his fellow GIs, and many have seen the Militant and are impressed
with the defense effort.